Ball valve



Jan. 19, 1954 6 H. L. PAUL, JR 2,666,617

BALL VALVE Filed Jan. 29, 1948 3 Sheets-Shefgt l INVENTOR Hmw/v L. B401 Jif. BY 1 ATTORNEYS H. 1.. PAUL, JR 2,666,617

BALL VALVE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 Jan. 19, 1954 Filed Jan. 29. 1948 \aa. HI II,

INVENTOR g im/y L. 73401. Is.

ATTORNEYS I Q 9 \A I f v ,0

Jan. 19, 1954 PAUL, JR 2,666,617

BALL VALVE Filed Jan. 29, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3 g ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 19, 1954 BALL VALVE Herman L. Paul, Jr., New Rochelle, N. Y., as-

signor to Paul Valve Corporation, Essex Fells, N.'J., a corporation of New Jersey Application January 29, 1948, Serial No. 4,975

Claims. (01. 251-133) The invention relates to controllable ball valves .for controllingthe flow of fluids.

The present invention constitutes an improvement over certain types of valves disclosed and claimed-in application, Serial No. 730,317, filed February 24, 1947, now Patent No. 2,629,578, dated February 24, 1953. a

The prior application discloses a valve having a straight fluid passage withconverging and diverging walls forming a venturi. A recess intersects the straight fluid passage at the throat passage of the venturi forming in effect opposed throats or seats. A ball contained in the recess is moved by'an actuator to open and close the valve. The actuator comprises a forked yoke having a hood portion straddling the flow space between the throats and bridging the throats to reduce turbulence. The yoke has wedges engageable between the ball and the seat to unseat the ball. The actuator also has a locking wedge for locking the ball against its seat. It has been found that, while such construction performs entirely satisfactorily when the seat, against which the ball normally seats and is locked, is on the down-stream side of the valve, it is often impossible to seat the ball against said seat when it is on the up-stream side of the valve.

It is an object of the present invention to adapt the above-mentioned valve to seat against the fluid pressure, i. e. against the up-stream seat. To accomplish this purpose, according to the invention, a stationary guide is so placed that, when the movable lock wedge moves toward closing position, the movable wedge and stationary guide cooperate to thrust the ball against the opposite seat, regardless of direction of fluid flow.

In accordance with the invention, the stationary guide may take the form of a stationary lug mounted on the valve casing, cast integral therewith; or the stationary guide may be in the form of a set screw threaded through the casing with its end disposed in the proper position. Or the stationary guide may be mounted on the valve bonnet either in the form of a casting integral with the bonnet or in the form of a bar welded to the bonnet. In other cases the stationary guide may take the form of an extra piece clamped between valve body and bonnet and having a depending forked portion with positioning wedges on either side of the flow space.

The invention also consists in certainnew and original features and combinations hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will 2 be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and. advantages, and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be better understood by referring to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through one form of valve showing the valve in full open position;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section on the line 2+2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fi 4 is a horizontal section on the line 44 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a section correspondin to Fig. 1 but with the valve in closed position;

Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section through a modified form of valve using a screw as the locking guide;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section of a modified form of valve showing the locking guide secured to the bonnet, the valve being in full open position;

Fig. 9 is a section corresponding to Fig. 8, showing the valve in closed position;

7 Fig. 10 is a section on the line Iii-l0 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 is a section on the line I l|l of Fig. 8; Fig. 12 is a section on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 9'; Fig. 13 is a longitudinal vertical section of still a further modified form of valve in which the locking guide straddles the stream;

Fig. 14 is a view corresponding to Fig. 13 showing the valve in closed position;

. Fig. 15 is a section on the line I5| 5 of Fig. 13; Fig. 16 is a section on the line Iii-I 6 of Fig. 14; and

Fig. 17 is a perspective of the locking guide.

In the following description and in the claims, various details will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, certain specific disclosure of the invention is made for purposes of explanation, but it will be understood that the details may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad aspect of the inven-, tion.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5, the valve comprises, in

jnects link 36 anda lug on desc'ription.

'having suitable packing 1'2, the top of v v flange 54 on spindle l3. Actuator i2 comprises a the same radius as the smaller general, a valve body It) having a through fluid passage intersected by a transverse recess, the latter being closed by a bonnet I l. A forked actuator l2, operated by stem l3 and hand lever l4, engages the ball Hi to open and close the valve.

The valve body H3 has a straight-through passage made up of a converging conduit l5 and a diverging conduit 15, assuming the fluid flow to be in the direction of the arrow A. The converging conduit It and diverging conduit l5 may be of circular cross section throughout and of equal length. The valve body has conventional flanges I! for coupling to connecting pipes (not shown) in any conventional manner, as by weld-'- ing or by bolts.

The converging and diverging passages it and I5 form in effect a venturi whose throat space is intersected by the transverse recess, H3. The end walls of the recess Iii are flat and have annular bosses 24. The surface of bosses24 are plane and intersect the passages i5 and it to form circular throats 2 i, 22. Throat 22 is ground toform a conical seat for the ball; throat 2i is not ground. The side walls of the recess 18 are rounded as indicated at 23.

Formed integral with the valve body it] is a lug Zii disposed adjacent throat 2i and having a guide surface 3!); this guide surface cooperates with lockwedge 5E) to guide and hold the ball is in its seat, as explained below. The lug 2a is ,entirely out of the flow space between the throats 2i and 22.

. The valve body bottom'of recess .The valve body has a bonnet H is bolted. V The bonnet H has a base flange 28 with a circular projection seatable within a seat 29 on may have a drain hole at the is closed by threaded plug 21. top flange 26 to which the body flange '28. A plurality of bolts (notshown) pass through the flanges 2.6, 28 to hold the honnet and valve body assembled, as will be understood by those skilledi the art.

Projecting upwardly from the base flange 28 are posts 3| supporting a bearing 32 at the top for slidable spindle l3. Pinned to spindle i3 is clevis 33. Secured to bonnet l l is U-support 34. Lever handle [4 is pivoted 'tofclevis 33 by pin 35. Link 35 is pivoted tosupport 34 by pin 31 and to handle l4 by pin 38. Tension spring 49 conbearing 32 to lock the valve in either full open position orin full closed position, as will be more apparent from further through a packing box 39 therein; the bOX 'lS closed by gland 4i held in position by follower bar 42. Bar 42 is bolted to the bonnet H by bolts (not shown) as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The bonnet has a seat and spindle It has a disc 48 seatable in said seat to limit the open Spindle l3 passes position of the spindle and, at the same time, to form a seal for the spindle.

Non-rotatably slidable in recess i8 is actuator which has a T-slot 53 to receive yoke 43 having a hood portion 44 whose bottom inner surface is semi-cylindrical so that it'rnay straddle the flow space V 22 and bridge the throats when the valve is in between throats 2| and full open position. The hood 44 is laid out 'on diameter of seat 22 (or on a slightly larger radius) and is substantially flush with the bottom and sides of' the I throats 2 l 22, to provide confining walls for the main fluidstream passing through'the valve and on the spindle l3.

4 thus reduce turbulence. The hood 44 has a slot 4? in its edge to clear guide lug 20 (see Fig. 3).

The hood 44 terminates in four legs 45 whose ends have tapered end wedges or pads 45 engageable with the ball 19 for purposes hereinafter discussed more in detail. Also rising from the hood 44 are outwardly offset side stirrups 49; these support at their upper ends an offset lock bar 59 and the cross bar 25 on which the T-slot member 53 is mounted.

Lock bar 50 has a wedge surface 5| adapted to engage bali i9 to tightly wedge the ball against seat 22 as shown in Fig. 5. Lock bar 59 has a straight central portion engageable with the plane bossfof thro" "t 2 I, and bridging throat 2 I, to provide a backing for the action of wedge surface 5i when the ball is locked against seat 22. Lock bar 56 also has a riding surface 52 adapted to engage the ball IQ for positively pushing the ball; such positive operation of the ball may be necessary in cases when the valve is used in inverted position, in'contrast with the upright position shown. I

The angle of riding surface 52 is such as to produce no bindingeffect against the ball'whenever it pushes the ball from its outermost position to its seating position, while the angle of locking wedge surface 5| is such as to wedge the ball tightly against its seat. The angle of wedge surface 5| may be gre te'r or less than the critical angle, below which the friction between the wedge and the ball will hold the wedge in locked position without inward pressure being exerted In event, sustained inward force on the spindle holds the wedge "50 in ball-locking position.

The angle of the opening wedges or pads 46 is such as to ease or roll the ball off its 'seatwhe'n opening the valve and to prevent spinning or chattering 'of the ball when the ball is held, in partially open'pr full open position, centered with respectto the four wedges 46. These wedges, as shown, have certain ta'pen angles both in side elevation, as shown in Fig. l, and in end elevation, as shownin Fig. 2, but these angles may vary considerablyand still meet the requirements of ease in unseating the ball and of non-chattering and non-spinning. These wedges and the angles thereof are discussed more at length in the prior application referred to above.

To operate the valve shown in Figs. 1 'to 5,

it is only necessary to raise or lower thehandle noted that 'the spring "40 must be extended to operatethe valve from full'closed to full open position or vice versa.

7 I y s The lever arrangement is such as tocause the spring 40to exert longituldinal force on the spind1e l3upward1 to hold the'valve in full open positionand downwardly 'to'hold the valve in full closed and lockedposition.

The valve 'makes use ofthe Bernoulli'theorem, according to which a member is always drawn from the edge of a flowing stream toward its mid- "dle the faster flow andlower pressure there. The ba11,'bemg"'p1aea'on'the edge of the stream flow, tends to move to the center of the stream flow. Y

The Bernoulli effect, provided there is sufllcient fluid velocity through the valve, normally holds the'ball I9 centrally against the openingwedges 46, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, even though the valve .is used in inverted position. It will be noted that the ball, in full open position, projects slightly beyond the straight line connecting the tops of throats 2 I and 22.- This slight projection of the ball is for the purpose of engaging the ball With the'vena contracta caused by the -flow of fluid through the venturi. While the valve may be built to move the ball entirely clear of this throat space so it does not engage the vena contracta, and still utilize the Bernoulli effect, it has been found that the projection of the ball I9 to the edge of the vena contracta does not reduce fluid flow and has the advantage of reducing the maximum range of actuator movement between full open and full closed position.

' To close the valve, it is only necessary to move the'handle l4 downwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5. Assuming the fluid to be flowing in direction A, the fluid flow will tend to keep the "ball I9 off its seat 22. Downward movement of the locking wedge 56 pushes the ball downwardly until it engages the guide surface 39 on the lock guide 20. The angle of the locking wedge and of the guide surface is such as to cooperate to thrust the ball onto its seat 22 against fluid flow and pressure; and thereafter the wedging action of the lock wedge surface 5| holds the ball there. This makes a drop-tight-seal of the ball against its seat.

It will be understood that if the velocity of fluid flow be suflicient, the hydrodynamic lift will cause the ball to retain a position against the opening wedges 46, regardless of whether the valve is used in the position shown in Fig. l or inverted with respect thereto. If there is no fluid flow at all, or if the velocity is so small as to be insuflicient to hold the ball against the opening wedges 46, the movement of the actuator is available to move the ball to closed position even against the force of gravity by the pushing action of the riding surface 52 and the actions of guide surface 30 and lock wedge surfac 5I, as described above.

To open the valve, it is necessary to raise hand lever I4 from the Fig. 5 position to the Fig. 1 position. With the fluid pressure in direction A, the fluid pressure will push the ball off its seat and'thereafter the four opening wedges 46 will carry the ball to its full-open position. If the fluid pressure is counter to arrow A, the ball will remain seated until the opening wedge 46 on either side of seat 22 engage the ball. These wedges engage between the ball and the adjoining wall on either side of seat 22 and gently ease and roll the ball oif its seat sufiiciently to crack the valve. Further upward movement of actuator I2 moves the ball upwardly.

It will be noted that the point of tangency where the plane guide surface 36 touches the ball I9 when seated (see Fig. 5) is approximately diametrically across the ball from the top of the opposite seat 22. This geometrical relationship is desirable but not absolutely necessary so lon as suflicient space is allowed between the guide surface 30 and the upper part of the opposite seat 22 to allow the ball to roll on to, and 01f of,

its seat.

Referring now to Figs. 6 and 7, the lock guide .here is in the form of a bolt 60 threaded into-the uide lug 26".

body 'l fl' in-such position that the end surface .plete this changeover, it is only necessary to reverse the position of the actuator I2 with respect to the valve body and exchange bolt 60 and plug 62.

Referring now to Figs. 8 to 12, this form differs mainly from the previous described forms in that the guide wedge is secured to the bonnet. In this form the actuator is reversed from the position shown in Figs. 1 to 5 in that the locking wedge is on the opposite side of the ball from the operating spindle. In this form, instead of a lever operating mechanism, a conventional threaded spindle and hand wheel operator is used.

In Figs. 8 to 12 the body I0" is substantially identical with the body I 6 in Figs. 1 to 5, the main difference being in the absence of the integral guide lug 20. The parts of the body in this form are given, for convenience, the same refer-- ence numerals as corresponding parts in Figs. 1 to 5, but double primed, and will not be described again. Both throats 2|" and 22" are ground to act as seats. Use is also made of the abutment formed by notch 68 as explained below.

The bonnet II" is similar to the bonnet II and has base flange 28" with a circular projection seatable within the seat 29" on thebody flange 26. A plurality of bolts (not shown) pass through the flanges 26", 26" to hold the bonnet and valve body assembled, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Depending from bonnet I I" is guide lug 20" having guide surface 30" corresponding to surface 36 in Fig. 1. This is discussed more at length below.

Projecting upwardly from the base flange 28" are posts 3|" supporting a bearing 32" at the top. Within bearing 32" is a collar 65 having a rotatable journal 66 and an end flange 61. Hand wheel 69 is keyed to collar 65 and a nut 16 holds the hand wheel 69 and collar 65 in assembled relationship.

Spindle I3" has threaded engagement with collar 65 and is n-on-rotatably mounted in actuator I 2" so that by turning hand wheel 69 the spindle I3" may be made to rise and fall. Spindle I 3" passes through a packing box H having suitable packing therein. The box is closed by a gland 12 held in position by follower bar 13. Bar 13 is bolted to the bonnet II" by bolts (not shown), as will be understood by those skilled in the art.

Non-rotatably slidable in recess I8 is the actuator I 2", the top of which has a hollow boss to receive the end of spindle I3"-. A pin 14 passes through the boss and spindle to rigidly coimect these parts.

Actuator I2" comprises the yoke 43" having a hood portion 44" whose top inner surface is semicylindrical so that it may straddle the flow space between seats 2 I" and 22" and may bridge these seats when the valve is in full open position. The hood 44" has a slot 41" in its edge to clear the The hood 44" is laid out on the same radius as the smaller diameter of seats 2|" and 22" (or on a slightly larger radius), and is substantially flush with the top and sides ofthe ascent? seats 21",22" to provide confining walls for the main fluid stream passing through the valve and thus reduce turbulence, when the valve is 1311 open position.

The hood M" terminates in four legs 45-" whose ends have tapered end wedges or pads 46" engageable with the ball IQ for purposes similar to those described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5.. Depending from the hood M" are outwardly offset side stirrups 49" supporting at their lower ends the offset lock bar 50".

Lock bar .50" has a wedge surface adapted to engage ball Hi to tightly wedge the ball against seat 22", as shown in Fig. 9. Lock bar 56" has a straight central portion engageable with the plane boss of seat .21, and bridging :seat 21, to provide a backing for the action of wedge surface 5 l when the ball is locked a ainst seat 22". Lock bar 55' also has a riding surface 52" adapted to engage the ball IQ" for mam ually raising the ball, when there is no fluidflcw, 101' such low velocity flow, as to be insufficient to raise the ball to engage the opening wedges 46'. Lock bar 58 engages abutment 68 to limit the opening movement of the actuator to such position the ball 49" normally touches the vena contracta as explained above.

The angle of riding surface 52 is such as to produce no binding effect against the ball as it is raised from its lowermost position to its upper- .most position, while the angle of locking wedge surface .5! :is such as to wedge the ball tightly against its seat. The angle of the wedge surface 5.1" may be the same s that disc i nection with wedge surface 51 of :Figs. 1 to 5,.

Cooperating with the locking wedge 59" to thrust the ball against its seat is the guide bar -2-0" shown connected to "the bonnet H" by weld- :ing 1-5. Instead-of being welded, this bar maybe :cast integral with the bonnet or otherwise secured. The bar depends centrally, :as illustrated :in Figs. and '12, and is disposed .in the notch 41 of the hood. The bar hasa wedge guide surface .30" engageablewith the :ball to hold the .ballain position so that the locking wedgecan do its work when the valve is to be tightly closed.

To operate the form shown in .Figs. 8 .to =12, it is'only necessary to rotate 'handwheel 69 in the proper direction. Engagement .of 'lockbar 50 with shoulder 68 limits the full open position of valve occurswhen the. lock wedge 50" is pressed home against the ball :to hold the ball in its seat (Fig: 9).

.In opening the valveywith fluid :pressure hold- .ing the :ball in its seat, .the :unseating of the ball by engagement ofthe opening wedges 4B" is the -:same.as described in connection with the openring-wedges 46 in'Figsl to .5; with fluid pressure tending to lift the ball from its seat, noopening "wedge action -isanecessary.

The closing movement'of the valve isssimilar -to, that described in connection-.witht-Figs. 1=.to 5, the .ball centering on the four wedges 1and rising with the actuator by action of the Bernoulli min- .the valve (Fig. 8). Full closed position of the .53 fore w en the val e a 22.", ag ns wh c the ball normally seats, is worn, the valve may simply be re e s d i ts ipe a d h th s a 2 us thus doubling the life of the valve body. In the event of reversal of the valve body in the pipe, appropriate reversal of the actuator and bonnet with respect to the valvebody must also be made.

Referring now to the form shown in Figs. 13 to 17, here the valve body is shown inverted with re ct o th p si i n show in e recedin formshe actua or s sh th t ho d u d r ts l ck n ed e a in Eiseto 15).; and a s rv motor oca ed u de th valve, is shown for operating the actuato r. This orm dist gui h s als ro t e p e in rms i a the ctua or .has a si se p o opening wedges and the 100k guide is in the form of a hood-like me ber st ad l n ema stream flow (Fig. 1'7).

.In vFigs. 13 to 17 the valve body lllaissimilar in construction to the valve body 10" Figs. 8 to 10, the principal difierences being in the omission of the ledgeJSS and of the drain plug 21". The same reference characters as used in the preceding figures are used to denote corresponding parts in Figs. 13 to 17; these reference Characters .are supplemented by the character a to distinguish from the other forms. Therefore, the details of the body will vnot be described again.

The operating mechanism of FigsglBto l'lcomprises a servornotor Bil, oneendof which constitutes a valve bonnet Ila. The motor includes a cylinder 81 threaded to the valve bonnet Ila. The cylinder has a head -82 threaded thereto. A fluid supply control ppe 83 connects with the lower end of the cylinder to operate the valve. Piston i8 is connected -to:st,em 13a; this stem has a clearancespace 39 whereit passes through the bonnet lid to pass operating fluid, as explained below. Piston'lil has a conical edge seatableiin seat T! in the endof cylinder '81 to provide a; seal and tolimitthe upward movement of the piston.

The valvebonnetl la has a flange 28a bolted to'the-fiange 215a on the valve body, as will'be understood bythoseskilled-in the art. The bon- "direction of fluid flow.

An advantage ,of the constructionshown in Figs. 8 1toi12 is that the ,symmetryof the valve oody'lll' is unimpaired by the lock g-uide. There- -'wedges'theball againstits seat, regardless of .the

.net Ha. has a circular Iip-B'Aseating in a circular recess in the valve flange 26a. Also seated in this recess is a ring :85 havinga projecting 0 trough-shaped guide member .85. A pin 9i passing:.through-;ring.,tad-and disposed in thebody of thewva-lve'locatesthe guide member .86 in proper .rotat-ive-position in the circular recess in the valve :body -l Ba.

The trough-shaped member has a bottom wall '33 and side walls 188. The upper end of the trough bottom-terminates in ,a. hood whose surface'f88 is rounded toregister with theadjacent valve seat. The upper corners of the side walls cfvthe trough have guide surfaces 90. These surfaces -.-are,disp,osed at suchangle that they engage ;;the ball substantially tangentially and outside of the mainflowstream as shown in Fig. 16, when the ball isseated.

The actuator 12a is similar tothe actuator previouslydescribed inythatit has a hood 44a having "bottom and sides-in register with the ;-bott;om,and sides ofzthezopposecl seats '2 la and 522a whenthe valve is infullopen position. The hood ,has-.;a single pair of legs 45a straddling the how space between the valveseats, which legs terminate in pening wedges or ,pads afia. These opening wedges have the same construc- ..tion and the same relationship tov the adjacent ,valve seat has; the relation betweenthe opening 9 wedges and valve seats in, the forms described above. V

The hood 44a has a projecting portion 93 riding in the trough of the guide member 86 and has offset side stirrups 49a engaging the face of walls 88 of the guide member 86 (see Fig. 16).

Supported at the upper ends of the side stirrups 49a is an offset lock bar 50a having a wedge surface la adapted to engage the ball l9a to tightly wedge the ball against its seat, as shown in Fig. 14. The lock bar 5041 has a straight central portion engageable with the plane boss of the seat 21a and bridging the seat to provide a backing for the action of the wedge surface when the ball is locked against the opposite seat 22a.

The lock bar 50a also has a riding surface 52a for engaging the ball to positively move it towardv closed position. The angles of the riding surface 52a and of the locking surface Slamay be the same as described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5.

The full open position of the valve is limited by the engagement of the piston 18 against the upper end of the cylinder of the servomotor (Fig. 13). In this position the hydrodynamic 7 lift and also gravity, if the valve be used in the position shown, holds the ball centered with respect to its two opening wedges 46a and against the opposite wall of the valve body, as shown in Fig. 13. The locking wedge 50a is slightly spaced from the ball when in this position so as to allow the ball a certain freedom of movement. I

r The closed position of the valve is determined by the tight engagement 50a against the ball l9a when the ball is seated in its seat 2211.. r

, The operation of the form shown in Figs. 13 to -17.is as follows. It willbe assumed that the valve controls water being delivered through the valve, in the direction B. Control pipe 83 is supplied with water from a suitable water supply; this pressure holds the valve open, as shown in Fig. 13.

means not shown) in the control conduit 83. The pressure of the water flowing through the valve, acting'on piston 18, (through clearance space 19) moves the actuator to closedposition shown in Fig. 14. The cooperation of the locking wedge 50a and of the guide wedge surfaces 90 operates to thrust the ball I Qaagainst its seat 22a, even-though the ball must close against the fluid flow. Oncethe locking wedge'has seated the ball. tightly in its seat, the critical angle of lock wedge surface 51a is such as to hold the ball in locked position until the servomotor is again operated to open the valve.

To open the valve, water pressure is admitted to control pipe 83. This forces piston 18 upwardly, the upper end of the operator cylinder holding the actuator in locked or open position.

Also, if desired, the servomotor may be modified so as to move the actuator in either direction independent of pressure of fluid flowing through the valve so that the valve may be closed or open'edat will under all conditions.

of the locking wedge To close the valve, pressure is released (by plication regardless of direction or continuity of This form of valve is also reversible in that when seat 22a is worn out, the actuator and lock guide may be reversed with respect to the valve body and the other seat 2m used. An extra opening 91$ for pin 9| in the valve body diametrically opposite the position shown may be provided for the reversed position.

The present invention relates primarily to the auxiliary guide for assisting the locking wedge in positioning the ball against the upstream seat. Different forms of auxiliary guide are shown. Different operators for operating the actuator are also shown, such forms includ ing the lever type operator, as shown inFigs. 1 to 5, the hand wheel type operator, shown in Figs. 8 to 12, and the servomotor type operator, shown in Figs. 13 to 17. It will be understood that the different types of operators are shown with different types of actuator and extra guide for purposes of illustration only and that the operators and actuators are interchangeable in that any of the operators shown for purposes of illustration, or in fact any commonly used'operator, may be used with any of the different forms of'actuator and auxiliary guide shown.

This type of valve is capable of general apfluid flow; and regardless of position of valve (upright, inverted, on its side; in horizontal pipe or vertical pipe Or inclined pipe). One use, for example, for this type of valve is in a vertical pipe where the fluid flow is normally vertically upward but may occasionally be downward. Here the valve would be so positioned as to seat the ball against the upper seat. This would place the ball on the normally down-stream seat, thus obtaining all the advantages of seating a ball with the pressure. The auxiliary guide would also insure seating with downward flow. Generally speaking, the present valve is good in all places where it is desired to seat against its seat, regardless of fluid "conditions within the valve. 1. By the use of any of these valves, straight line throttling can be achieved. That is to say, the rate of flow through'the valve is directly proportional to the amount of longitudinal displace ment of the actuator from opening position. This follows from the nature of a ball rolling out of a circular seat and is made possible in the present valve by the location of all parts of the actuator out of the throatof the venturi so that the only impedenceto fluid flow through the valve, between open and closed position, is the ball itself. I 4

The proportions of these valves may vary somewhat but good results have been obtained by mak ing the venturi ratio, that is the ratio of the diameter at the throat of the venturi to the maximum diameter of the venturi anywhere between 0.55 to 0.70. The ratio 5/8 is an ideal working ratio inmost cases. Furthermore the preferred ratio of the distance between seats to the larger venturi diameter is between 0.9 and 1.3. The venturi may be omitted entirely, if desired. In any event, best results have been obtained when the ball diameter is equal substanti'ally. to'the distance between seats or throats.

The: size of the valves themselves may vary anywhere from small hose valves to'big power operated valves, such as used in powerhouse and industrial plants. The valves have a wide range of uses-and are useful for almost anything requiring a valve. They can handle lowest and highest pressures and temperatures. They can handle gases and liquids of a wide range of viscosities, including steam, air, oil, water and chemicals. Due to the easy action of the opening wedges, even large valves may be operated by hand. The valves may also be power operated and may be used as turbine trip, throttle valves, remote control, casualty valves, etc.

The hydrodynamic action according to the Bernoulli principle is obtainable over a wide range of fluid velocities and the Venturi principle, by increasing the throat velocity over and above velocity in the pipe, makes the Bernoulli lift efiective over a greater range of pipe velocities.

Since the Bernoulli effect will lift large heavy metal balls, it will also lift any foreign matter which might settle out in the bottom of the valve when the valve is closed, thus making the valve self-flushing. This effect also prevents settling of foreign matter in the valve when fluid is flowing.

The Venturi shaped body reduces the physical dimensions of the valve for handling any given flow rate. The yoke and hood acts to reduce turbulence. inlet of the valve is largely recovered at the outlet. The rate of discharge through the valve is also very high, as compared to an open pipe of the larger Venturi diameter.

The proper ratio of ball diameter to seat diameter insures tight seating and the ball, resting on a conical or convex seat, obtains ideal line contact. The fact that a ball never seats exactly in the same position on the seat insures long life to the ball.

The rolling of the ball from its seat by the opening Wedges is accomplished with small effort and removes the ball without iniury to the ball or seat. There is no danger of galling. The placing of the ball at the edge of the vena contracta in full open position minimizes the range necessary to operate the valve between full open and full closed positions.

When the hydrodynamic great enough to is sufiicient to hold the ball firmly against the angular pads or wedges, producing enough surface friction on the ball to prevent spinning and fluttering. When the hydrodynamic lift is inlift on the ball is sufficient to lift the ball, the ball lies quietly in the bottom of the recess unless gravity holds the ball against its opening wedges. When the flow rate changes from the second condition to the first condition, as soon as sufiicient lift is generated, the ball snaps from its position in the bottom of the recess up against the pads, the lift increasing as the ball moves upwardly. The Bernoulli effect is usable in all positions of the valve-in addition to upright as shown, inverted, on its side, etc.

The vital parts for sealing flow constitute the ball and its seat, both of which may be precision ground, thus insuring positive stoppage of flow. The seats may be integral with the valve body or they may be in the form of annular inserts.

High eificiency is obtained due to lack of turbulence and straight fluid flow. The present valves combine the high unit load, line contact seat seal of conventional globe and angle valves with the negligible pressure drop and through, non-turbulent flow of gate valves.

While certain novel features of the invention have been disclosed herein, and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes Thus full pressure applied at the lift the ball, the lifting force V 12 may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: I l. in a valve, a casing having a flow passage and a recess intersecting said flow passage to form opposed throats, one of said throats constituting a seat, a'ball in said recess seatable on said seat, an actuator in said recess movable generally lengthwise thereof, said actuator being in the form of a cage and having a yoke straddling the how space between said throats, said yoke including a hood at its closed end and terminating in abutments, said yoke having side stirrups extending from said hood and a locking wedge connecting said stirrups, said ball being loosely confined between said abutments and said locking wedge, said locking Wedge being engageable with said ball on the side of said ball remote from said seat, a guide member on said casing having a guide surface adjacent but substantially out of said flow space, said locking wedge and guide surface being located on opposite sides of the axis of said flow space, an operator for operating said actuator, said guide member cooperating with said locking wedge to thrust said ball against its seat.

2. In a valve, a casing having a flow passage with a transversely extending recess intersecting it and forming opposed throats, one of said throats forming a seat, a ball in said recess seatable on said seat, an actuator movable lengthwise of said recess and comprising a hood adapted to straddle the flow space between throats and also comprising legs, stirrups extending from said hood and also adapted to straddle said flow space, connecting means including a locking wedge located on the opposite side of said ball from said hood, said connecting means connecting said stirrups and forming with said legs a confining space for said ball, said actuator loosely engaging said ball to remove it from said seat and to lock the ball against its seat, an operating member connected to said connecting means for moving said actuator lengthwise of said recess, said locking wedge being engageable with the ball on the side of the ball remote from said seat.

3. In a valve, a casing having a flow passage with a transversely extending recess intersecting it and forming opposed throats, one of said throats forming a seat, a ball in said recess seatable on said seat, an actuator movable lengthwise of said recess and comprising a hood adapted to straddle the flow space between throats and also comprising legs, stirrups extending from said hood and also adapted to straddle said flow space, connecting means including a cross member connected to said stirrups said connecting means being disposed on the opposite side of said ball from said hood, said connecting means forming with said legs a space for positively moving said ball to seat and unseat the ball, an operating member connected to said cross member for moving said actuator lengthwiseof said recess, said casing having an opening at the end of said recess remote from said hood, said operating member extending through said casing opening.

4. In a valve, a casing having a flow passage and a recess intersecting said flow passage to form opposed seats, one of said seats being for present use, the other being in reserve, a ball seatable on said used seat, an actuator in said recess, said actuator having a locking wedge, said locking wedge being engageable with said ball on the side of said ball remote from said used seat,

13 a guide member mounted on said casing and having a guide surface adjacent but substantially out of said flow space, said guide surface cooperating with said locking wedge to thrust said ball against said used seat, means mounting said actuator to make it reversible with respect to .said casing for the purpose of using said reserved seat. 7

5. In a valve, a valve body,a bonnet secured to said body, said body having a flow passage and a recess intersecting said flow passage to form opposed throats, one of said throats constituting a seat, a ball seatable on said seat, an actuator in said recess movable lengthwise thereof, said actuator being in the form of a cage and having a yoke straddling the flow space between said throats, said yoke including a hood at its closed end and terminating in legs, said yoke having side stirrups'extending from said hood and a locking wedge connecting said stirrups, saidball being loosely confined between the ends of said legs and said locking wedge, said recess providing a receiving space for the ball and locking wedge when the valve is open, a guide member on said'body having a guide surface adjacent i but substantially out of said flow space, said guide surface being located on the opposite side ofthe axis of said flow space from said receiving space, said guide member cooperating with c said locking wedge to thrust said ball against its seat,. and means for operating said actuator. 6. In a valve, a casin having a flow passage .and a recess intersecting said flow passage to form opposed seats, one of said seats being for present use, the other being in reserve, a ball posed in the one of said openings on the opposite r side of the recess from the used seat, the end of said guide member having a guide surface adjacent said flow space, said guide surface coopcrating with said locking wedge to thrust said ball against said used seat, a closure for said other opening, said closure and guide member being exchangeable for the purpose of using said reserved seat, and means for operating said actuator.

7. In a valve, a casin havin a flow passage and a recess intersecting said flow passage to form opposed seats, one of said seats being for present use, the other being in reserve, a ball seatable on said used seat, an actuator in said recess movable lengthwise thereof, said actuator being in the form of a cage and having a yoke straddling the flow space between said throats, said yoke including a hood at its closed end and terminating in legs, said yoke having side stirrups extending from said hood and a locking wedge connecting said stirrups, said ball being loosely confined between the ends of said legs and said locking wedge, said locking wedge being movable in a path located on the opposite side of said recess from the used seat, said casing having opposed diagonal openings intersecting said recess at points outside of their respective seats and located on the opposite side of said flow space from said locking wedge, a guidejbolt threaded into the one of said openings on the opposite side I seatable on said used seat, an actuator in said 1'4 of the recess from theused seat, the end of said bolt having a guide surface adjacent but substantially out of said flow space, said guide surface cooperating with said locking wedge to thrust said ball against said used seat, a closure for said other diagonal opening, said closure and guide bolt being exchangeable for the purpose of using said reserved seat, and means for operating said actuator.

8. In a valve, a valve body, a bonnet secured to said body, said'body having a, flow passage and, a recess intersecting said flow passage to form opposed seats, one of said seats being for present use, the other seat being held in reserve, a ball seatable on said used seat, an actuator in said recess, said actuator having a locking wedge, a guide member on said bonnet having a guide surface adjacent the flow space between said seats, an operator for operating said actuator, said locking wedge being engageable with said ball on the side of the ball remote from said used-seat, said guide member cooperatin with said locking wedge to thrust said ball against said used seat, means removably mounting said bonneton said body to enable the position of the bonnet and of the actuator with respect to said body to be reversed, to make use of the seat held in reserve. V I

9. In a valve, a casing having allow passage and a recess intersecting said flow passage to form opposed throats, one of said throats constituting a seat, a ball seatable on said seat, an actuator in said recess movable lengthwise thereof, said actuatorcomprising a yoke straddling the flow space between said throats, said yoke including a hoodat its closed end and terminating in a singlepair of opening wedges located adjacent said seat, said yoke having side stirrups extendingfrom said hood and a locking wedge connecting said stirrups, said ball being loosely disposed between said opening wedges and said locking wedge, a guide member havin short 'legs straddling said flow space, said short legs having beveled guide surfaces to cooperate with said locking wedge to thrust saidball against said seat, said lockingwedge and guide surfaces being engageable with the ball on the side of the ball remote from said seat.

10. In a valve, a casing having a substantially straight flow passage extending therethrough, said passage having a transversely extending recess intersectin it, said recess having opposed guide surfaces intersecting said passage to form opposed throats, at least one of said throats constituting a circular seat, a ball having a diameter substantially greater than the diameter of said seat and located in said recess, said opposed surfaces being spaced a distance approximately equal to the diameter of the ball, a locking wedge having a wedging surface, said locking wedge being movable enerally lengthwise of said recess along the guide surface opposite said seat, said wedging surface being engageable with said ball on the far side of the ball from said seat, whereby said locking wedge exerts pressure against said ball to urge said ball against the surface adjacent said seat, said casing having a stop surface against which said locking wedge pushes the ball to positively thrust said ball onto said seat, whereby said ball may be seated against fluid pressure, and means for moving said locking Wedge.

11. In a valve, a casing havinga flow passage extending therethrough and a transversely extending recess intersecting said ijow passage to form a seat, a ball in said recess seatable on said seat, an actuator in the form of a cage loosely confining said ball, said actuator comprisin an opening wedge adapted to engage between the ball and the marginal wall surrounding the seat to unseat said ball against fiuid pressure holding the ball on its seat, said actuator also comprisin a locking wedge located on the opp i of the ball from said opening wedge, said actuator being capable of movin said ball from open position in said recess on one side of the seat axistc closed position on said seat, said casing having a stop member located in said recess on the opposite side of the seat axis from said open position of the ball, said stop member being engaged by said ball when said actuator moves said ba 1 to closed position and cooperating with said locking wedge to direct said ball onto said seat against fluid pressure, said. locking wedge engaging ball to hold, it on said seat, and means for operating said actuator.

, 12. A controllable valve structure comprising a casing having a flow passage andan oifset recess, said recess having opposed Walls, at least one of said walls having a seat, surrounding the flow passage, a loose ball in said recess and movable lengthwise thereof to open and close the valve, said recess having a receiving space to receive the ball when the valve is open, said opposed walls being spaced apart a distance generally equal to the ball diameter, an actuator in said recess, means for moving said actuator lengthwise of said recess to seat and unseat the ball, said casing having a stop member located in said recess on the opposite side of the seat axis from said receiving space, said stop member being located in the path of ball movement and engageable with the ball to limit movement thereof ina direction lengthwise of said recess, said actuator having a locking member engageable with the opposed wall opposite said seat and with that part or the ball surface adjacent said last-mentioned opposed wall and on the same side of the seat axis as said receiving space, whereby said locking member and stop member cooperate to thrust said ball against fluid pressure resisting seating of the ball. 1

13. A controllable valve structure comprising a casing having a fiow passage and an offset recess, said recess having opposed guide surfaces, at least one of said guide surfaces having a seat surrounding the flow passage, a loose ball in said recess and movable lengthwise thereof along said guide surfaces to open and close the valve, said opposed guide surfaces being spaced apart a distance generally equal to the ball diameter, a set of locking members for positioning said ball on its seat against fluid pressure tending to unseat the ball, means for moving one of said locking members to engage the ball and to release the ball, said locking members being engageable with said ball on opposite sides thereof with respect to the length of said recess, at least one directly between said orifices of said locking members being engageable with the ball on theopposite side thereof from the plane of said seat,

1 In a valve, a casing having a flow passage extending therethrough and a transversely extending recess intersecting said flow passag to form opposed orifices, at least one of said orifices being a circular seat, the part of said recess constituting a stream space, a closure having a spherical surface seatable on said seat, a cage confining said closure but permitting rotation thereof to present difierent parts of said spherical surface to said seat, said cage comprising opening wedges adapted to engage the closure on either side of said stream space, to open said closure against fluid pressure holding said closure on its seat, said cage also comprising a locking member engaging said closure on the opposite side thereof from said opening wedges, said recess on one side of said stream space constituting a pocket to receive said closure in open posi ion, said transversely extending recess having ways, said cage being slidable on said ways to. move said closure from open position in said pocket to closed position on said seat, said casing having a stop member located in said recess on the opposite side of the seat axis from said pocket, said stop member being engaged by said closure, when the cage moves the closure to closed position, and cooperatingwith said locking member to direct said closure onto said seat against fluid pressure, and means for moving said cage along said ways.

15'. In a valve, a casing having a flow passage and a recess intersecting said flow passage to form opposed seats, one of said seats being for present use, the other being in reserve, a ball seatable on said used seat, an actuator carrying a guide member in said recess, a second guide member mounted on said casing, said guide members cooperating with each other to thrust said ball against said used seat, at least one of said guide members being engageable with said ball on th side of the ball remote from said used seat, means mounting said last-named guide member to make it reversible with respect to said casing for the purpose of using said reserved seat.

HERMAN L. PAUL, JR.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 414,509 Fisher 4 Nov. 5, 1889 1,334,870 Lowry Mar. 23, 1920 1,588,562 Vives June 15, 1926 1,913,544 House July 18, 1933 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 788,425 France of 1935 

